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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Kristalina Georgieva <fileo7344@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officeservice1919@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2021 18:55:37 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS NEEDED
--
Greetings to you
This is Kristalina Georgieva, the Director of
International Monetary Fund. I’m contacting you regarding your
Consignment box worth $10.5 Million United States Dollars brought to
my desk to be signed and send back to the originated country as
unclaimed fund. As a result of the information i got, i told
them to wait until i hear from you today so i will know the reason why
you rejected such amount of money which is your Compensation Fund just
because of the documentaries needed. I need your urgent response as
soon as you receive my text and explain to me the reason why you have
abandon your box, but if you don't need it then I can change your
name to another person here in United State, so that this Government
will not claim this money. Get back to me with your below information:
1.Your Names:
2.Home/Office Address:
3.Cell Phone No:
warning: Please you must stop further communication with anybody,
office, individual or organization relating to this transaction to
avoid distractions in the remittance of your fund. We are expecting a
swift response to this letter and upon the receipt of this email.
Thank you.
Best Regards
Kristalina Georgieva
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Anti-fraud resources:
